Extreme Overclocking Performance

When looking at the Gainward version of the GeForce GTX 260 graphics card, we somehow got the feeling that this card is capable of more. The looks and design suspect that this single GPU version has really been designed to deliver stunning performance, but that some still has to be discovered as well. Since some other manufacturers have already released some overclocked editions of the GeForce GTX 260 graphics card we just want to see how far we can stretch the limits. And well overclocking, unlocking the extra performance is exactly what we have done. And we do have to admit, the GT200 graphics core powering the GeForce GTX 260 might feature a voltage increase via a simple BIOS tweak, though we actually didn't have much time to check this out. Although it is only a hunch, due to the BIOS coming with two unknown voltage lines which might give an increase though we doubt is somehow.

Electronic Arts Crysis Warhead

Gaming Results - 1600x1200 - E6700 3.00GHz - 2GB RAM
Gainward GeForce GTX 260 896MB (0x/0x)	Game Score
576/1998MHz (Reference)	39.13 fps
626/2106MHz (Med Overclock)	41.55 fps
675/2214MHz (Avg Overclock)	43.93 fps
702/2304MHz (Max Overclock)	45.56 fps
Results Interpretation: Higher index values are better.
Gaming Results - 2560x1600 - E6700 3.00GHz - 2GB RAM
Gainward GeForce GTX 260 896MB (0x/0x)	Game Score
576/1998MHz (Reference)	21.47 fps
626/2106MHz (Avg Overclock)	22.91 fps
675/2214MHz (Avg Overclock)	24.29 fps
702/2304MHz (Max Overclock)	25.22 fps
Results Interpretation: Higher index values are better.

We just overclocked the core and memory by upping the clock speeds and that resulted in decent performance increase. As you can clearly see from the figures we gotten from running Unreal Tournament 3 a nice boost is noticeable. During all our benchmarks the Gainward GeForce GTX 260 version kept on humming stable with no hickups to finally set the top speed at 702/2304MHz. Would you have thought so? Well we suspected the GeForce GTX 260 graphics card to be quite overclock friendly but such a nice increase we didn't expect, especially taking into account that it is actually a quite large GPU being produced at 65nm which will generate extra heat when running at overclocked settings. But the standard GeForce GTX 260 version certainly has quite some hidden potential and we would like to add that with some improved cooling our card could even hit 720MHz by just increasing the fan speed.

Final Thoughts

How should we really express ourselves? We did get a hell of a great kick out of the GeForce GTX 260 video card from Gainward which could easily withstand though not always beat the GeForce 9800 GX2 monster. Though that wasn't the goal as far as NVIDIA was concerned for the GeForce GTX 260 edition. This was more the answer to the call of ATI who was also around the same time releasing their Radeon HD 4800 series which came at a very nice and almost unbeatable price tag. Though NVIDIA quickly tuned their pricing down to become again competitive when it came to price to performance. Yes the early adopters might have paid too much, though most will have gotten a rebate after the price went down so quickly. And of course Gainward was certainly one of the first to jump on the wagon and follow the new pricing strategy.

Ever since the GeForce 9800 GX2 hit the market, we saw that quite a lot of persons didn't go for this version due to the news hanging in the air of the new series from NVIDIA that would soon follow. Well those that waiting on those won't be let down as the GeForce GTX 200 series are strong and ready take on the competition. And although for the moment NVIDIA might no longer have the performance crown, due to the Radeon HD 4870 X2 which is sitting at the top, they are still on top of the game when it concerns single GPU based graphics accelerators. By all means NVIDIA has been at the top for quite a while now, so why not let it be for the moment and focus on the next step ahead. The Gainward GeForce GTX 260 version just came out when it should along with the many other NVIDIA partners with a great new design.

The Gainward version of the GeForce GTX 260 card is identical to the reference design laid out by NVIDIA featuring the same dual slot cooling solution. This is actually good news as the reference cooling is quiet though very efficient though taking up two slots. The all new GT200 chip is what turns on the GeForce GTX 260, being well equipped to go head to head with the Radeon HD 4850. Even though the technology didn't change as much as we would have liked to see, it does add some more optimized logic and features to stand out in the crowd. This especially since PhysX technology is now integrated with the GeForce GTX 200 series and drivers been made available with full PhysX support. And with Gainward and its company commitment to bring the end user the best possible video card experience and customer support, you are sure to have a professional package with an excellent warranty.

What is generally the most exciting part about the graphics card these days is without a doubt the overclocking ability. The Gainward GeForce GTX 260 edition hit straight on a great score of 675/2214MHz which is in many cases the pre-overclocked settings of the special versions. But that wasn't the end of it. Due to the high-end memory chips we could take this card further than we expected to hit a final top of 702/2304MHz. In fact we also did some extra tweaking, though the voltage increase via the BIOS made no difference but with increased fan speed we could even reach 712/2376MHz stable. The drawback was however the noise levels introduced by the high fan speed. This is surely some good news as that means that many will be able to enjoy some nice overclocking and as such enjoy even more the newest games.

The Gainward GeForce GTX 260 graphics card is an outstanding video card that promises to deliver outstanding performance for any game you throw at it. We showed that the GeForce GTX 260 version can handle gaming at incredible frame rates even at extreme high definition resolutions. So, if you are looking for a new GPU for an upgrade or fresh system build, you will find the Gainward GeForce GTX 260 very inviting as the performance is outstanding, and comes at a good price level compared to their close competitors. By all means we can highly recommend the Gainward version of the GeForce GTX 260 for any gamer that wants to enjoy the latest game titles without losing out on any frame rates. At least it gave us an experience beyond our senses, with stunning overclocking potential and gaming interaction!

Pros

• Stunning Gaming Performance
• Gorgeous Design and Functionality
• Extreme Overclocking Capability
• Microsoft DirectX 10 Technology
• Parallel Computing (CUDA) Support
• SLI Ready, Multi-GPU Capable
• Ultra Fast GDDR3 (1.0ns) Memory
• High Quality and Quiet Cooling
• PhysX Technology Support
• Quite Competitive Pricing

Cons

• Missing DirectX 10.1 Support

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